Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2005)
6 JULY 15, 2005 Smoke Signals 2005 Candidate Statements 0 LeRoy Simmons r f 4T- -mm, mc. -' ) r :" My name is LeRoy "Buzz" Simmons, My family was relocated from the Grand Ronde area to Los Angeles by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the 1950's. After 40 years, I was able to return home five years ago and I've been working for the Tribe since then. I have been happily mar ried for 33 years to Janet. We have two children, Tanya and Rich, and a granddaughter, Ryley. I am running for Council because I want to restore your voice in Tribal government. When you want answers, you want to talk to your Council, not staff. When your questions are deferred to employees it leads to the perception that the attorneys and up per management have too much power. Whether this is true or not, we need to address it. I will work to ensure that Tribal Coun cil sets a good example and meets the high standards expected of elected officials. I also believe that nine years is enough time to get the job done effectively, so I support the concept of term lim its. ACCOUNTABILITY: Living out of the area for so long, I never felt adequately informed about Tribal government. As a council member, I will advocate for monthly written reports from each council member on issues, decisions and upcoming projects, in cluding voting records and an explanation of their decisions. THE FUTURE: It is imperative that the Tribe develop a 10-year strategic plan. With a common understanding of future goals, so everyone can move in the same direction. Without it, manage ment has no direction as to where the Tribe is headed, leaving them to their own devices. Non-Tribal members should not be deciding our future. It is the council's job to create the big pic ture and the staffs job to help make it happen. There are many dedicated employees, but they don't have the direction and sup port they need to take us into the future. MENTORSHIP & TRAINING: Too many people enter the job market before they know what employers expect of them. We need to train Tribal members on work ethics and job skills. We should revise and expand the mentorship program to provide opportu nities for more Tribal members. Also, employees need to be held accountable for their actions and dealt with accordingly. When poor performance is rewarded, good employees pay the price. PER CAPITA: I would like to see a gradual increase up to 45 percent of casino profits and a quarterly or monthly distribution for those that request it. ELIGIBILITY: The Ad-Hoc Committee will study this issue and report the facts of this controversy so that we can all make in formed decisions. This is an extremely important issue and will affect us all for many years to come. HEALTH INSURANCE: Our Elder's spouses have less cover age than members and employees. This coverage requires greater out-of-pocket money creating a financial burden for many of our Elders. Our Elder's spouses should be treated at least as well as our employees. ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION: Make Grand Ronde a desti nation that attracts people of all ages and interests. This can be done by adding a golf course or other amenities to bring in more tourists. This will also provide more employment opportunities to our Tribal members. If you would like to learn more about my views please call or email anytime. I will send another letter to expand on the topics I've touched upon. If you do not want to receive campaign let ters, please call or e-mail and I will remove you from my list. Our progress has been stalled for too long; let's move ahead to gether! Ldbuzzshotmail.com 503-474-2995 urn HBobllaller Dear Tribal members, Most of vou mav alreadv know me from previous elections, and from fS V. the time that I served on Tribal vf'M Council. I would like to begin by taking this time to address last years election. It was a very difficult time for myself, and for my fam ily as well. Some of the CSSSS other candidates re leased some information about my past, which occurred over 40 years ago. I would like to say that everyone makes mistakes, es pecially when they are young, and I had to pay the price and learn from mine. Also, please keep in mind that there are two sides to every story. I hope that this years campaign will be more positive than the previous one. I feel that no one should resort to dirty politics, in order to win an election. Instead of going against one another and making each other look bad, we should find ways to come together, for the sake of the Tribe and its members. After all, the future of our Tribe is not a game. The next issue I would like to address is enrollment, because I know that it is a big issue to the Tribal members. I personally agree with most of the 1999 Enrollment Amendment, but I do think that it is wrong to keep a person from being on the roll, just because their parents were not on the at the time of that person's birth. This creates a division among families, and it is not right. It is my belief that any person with one-sixteenth or more Grand Ronde Indian should not be denied on the roll. There is now an ADHOC committee, and I hope that this is sue will soon be resolved. I would now like to talk about some of the things that I have supported in the past, and that I will continue to support. During my time on council, I was a strong advocate for Per Capita. It is my hope that soon, we can reach forty five percent. I was, and am still, a strong supporter of all of the benefits that were established. Along with pushing for Tribal preference, at the Casino, dur ing my time on Tribal Council, I also pushed for the Mentorship Program for the Tribal employees working at the Casino, and at the Tribal Offices. This program was established to educate and train the Tribal members about their jobs, In order for them to reach higher paying positions. When re-elected in 1998, I had concerns about our investments with Spirit Mountain Develop ment Company and Strategic Wealth Management. I and a few of the other council members at the time, pushed for an audit, which exposed the losses. Also, in 1999, I addressed the issue of the children's trust funds because I believed that they should be in a more secured account. I was told that it would be looked into. I have always believed that it is very important to take care of the Tribal member's money, and if re-elected, I plan to make sure that it is done, to the best of the council's ability. Another issue that I believe is very important, is education. I believe that the tribe could be doing more for the youth. If re elected to Tribal Council, I would do my best to make sure that any Tribal member wanting to go to college would get as much help from the Tribe as possible. After all, these young people are someday going to be the leaders of this Tribe. They need to be as educated as possible. My main goal, if re-elected, is to get people to realize the im portance in coming together as a Tribe. Something needs to be done to stop the division among the Tribal Members. The more we get along and work together, the stronger and better off our Tribe will be. In conclusion, if elected to Tribal Council, I will bring with me the necessary experience and knowledge that it takes to be a good Tribal leader. I will do everything that I can do to make this Tribe a better place for it's members. Sincerely, Robert Haller If you have any questions or concerns regarding this letter, or anything else, please feel free to contact me at any time. 503-879-5418
